A news story of March 9, 1923, announced that negotiations in progress for some weeks resulted this p.m. in an agreement of the terms of a $2,950,000 bond issue to finance the immediate erection of the interurban station and a 10-story office building at the northeast corner of 10th and McGee. The project occupied the entire block from 9th to 10th on McGee. C.C. Peters was president of the Interurban Central Station Company. (He was also secretary of the Emery-Bird-Thayer department store.) It was the largest project in Downtown Kansas City at the time, and when completed was considered the largest bus terminal in the nation. Five million dollars was spent to build the facility, which included a 300-room hotel, lunchroom and dining room. There was a ballroom seating 600 for meals, which catered to conventions and meetings.Dedication of the facility was celebrated by a huge crowd on the evening of Aug. 2, 1930. Charles F. Wren, president of the Pickwick Greyhound Lines, made the presentation speech and the city's acceptance was given by Councilman Ruby D. Garrett. A bottle of ginger ale was cracked over the front bumper of the first bus to leave the station by the queen of the day, six-year-old Betty Blanche Benningfield, 7205 Madison. By 1950, three major bus lines operated from the terminal: the Southwestern Greyhound Lines, Overland Greyhound Lines of Omaha, and the Crown Coach Lines of Joplin, Mo. Eight other lines also used the depot. Later a dining room in French decor was opened. The hotel closed in October 1968.Today Sam's Pickwick Garage occupies the old bus station. The old Pickwick Hotel, as pictured, has become the Royal Towers Apartments with cafeteria service for residents and the public in the former Pickwick Hotel dining room. Kansas City Times, June 20, 1980
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